Martello Tower

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Photo by flickr user foshie

There are quite a number of these round, brick towers built up and down Britain's coast, constructed as part of the effort to fend off an attack by Napoleon, who was expected between 1805 and 1812. There are 29 between Aldeburgh and St Osyth Stone, and they usually they had cannons on the roof, were about 30 feet high and the bricks were laid about 13 feet thick. This refurbished tower is one of the largest, which is like four usual towers joined together into a little fort type building which looks like a clover from above. The cannon has been removed from the roof to make way for a roof terrace, and the moat has been dried, but though the windows are small you're right on the beach and the crash of the waves is fabulously exciting.

Landmark Trust own it and will rent it out to you if you book enough in advance.

Written by  Jemima Jones.

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